The interplay between claw morphology and microhabitat use in neotropical iguanian lizards

Tulli, María José; Cruz, Félix Benjamín; Herrel, Anthony; Vanhooydonck, Bieke; Abdala, Virginia

doi:10.1016/j.zool.2009.02.001

Cited by 87 publications

(138 citation statements)

References 59 publications

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“…Greater claw height and curvature are considered indicative of climbers (Crandell et al., 2014; Ribas et al., 2004; Tulli et al., 2009), and especially true for mostly vertical climbers (Glen & Bennett, 2007). It is not surprising that the Arboreal, Rocky‐field, and Escarpment taxa collectively reflected a similar condition, considering accounts of some sort of climbing existed for all species (see section 2.1).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…It was not surprising that phylogenetic signaling plays a significant role in varanid claw morphology, considering it also strongly influences claw shape in other lizards (Tulli et al., 2009, 2011, 2012) and birds (Birn‐Jeffery et al., 2012; Fowler et al., 2009). We could not develop rigorous phylogenetic conclusions about Australian varanids as a whole, but tentative inferences may be drawn.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Claws are therefore well studied, as they are often the first and last structure to interface with substrate during locomotion (Birn‐Jeffery, Miller, Naish, Rayfield, & Hone, 2012). Claw characteristics in lizards have been correlated with performance variables such as clinging and sprinting (Crandell, Herrel, Sasa, Losos, & Autumn, 2014; Tulli, Abdala, & Cruz, 2011, 2012; Zani, 2000) or habitat/microhabitat preference (Ribas et al., 2004; Teixeira‐Filho, Rocha‐Barbosa, Paes, Ribas, & de Almeida, 2001; Tulli, Cruz, Herrel, Vanhooydonck, & Abdala, 2009). Bird claws have also received significant attention (Hahn, Dimitrov, Rehse, Yohannes, & Jenni, 2014), focusing on curvature and its relationship with habitat (Bock & Miller, 1959; Fowler, Freedman, & Scannella, 2009; Glen & Bennett, 2007; Mosto & Tambussi, 2014; Pike & Maitland, 2004).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Claw morphometrics in monitor lizards: Variable substrate and habitat use correlate to shape diversity within a predator guild

D’Amore

Clulow

Doody

et al. 2018

Ecology and Evolution

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Numerous studies investigate morphology in the context of habitat, and lizards have received particular attention. Substrate usage is often reflected in the morphology of characters associated with locomotion, and, as a result, claws have become well‐studied ecomorphological traits linking the two. The Kimberley predator guild of Western Australia consists of 10 sympatric varanid species. The purpose of this study was to quantify claw size and shape in the guild using geometric morphometrics, and determine whether these features correlated with substrate use and habitat. Each species was assigned a Habitat/substrate group based on the substrate their claws interact with in their respective habitat. Claw morphometrics were derived for both wild caught and preserved specimens from museum collections, using a 2D semilandmark analysis. Claw shape significantly separated based on Habitat/substrate group. Varanus gouldii and Varanus panoptes claws were associated with sprinting and extensive digging. Varanus mertensi claws were for shallow excavation. The remaining species’ claws reflected specialization for some form of climbing, and differed based on substrate compliance. Varanus glauerti was best adapted for climbing rough sandstone, whereas Varanus scalaris and Varanus tristis had claws ideal for puncturing wood. Phylogenetic signal also significantly influenced claw shape, with Habitat/substrate group limited to certain clades. Positive size allometry allowed for claws to cope with mass increases, and shape allometry reflected a potential size limit on climbing. Claw morphology may facilitate niche separation within this trophic guild, especially when considered with body size. As these varanids are generalist predators, morphological traits associated with locomotion may be more reliable candidates for detecting niche partitioning than those associated directly with diet.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Claw morphometrics in monitor lizards: Variable substrate and habitat use correlate to shape diversity within a predator guild

D’Amore

Clulow

Doody

et al. 2018

Ecology and Evolution

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“…Whether similar shapes in the crevices in bark could also enhance the performance of limbed animal species with claws would also be interesting to examine. Although claw shape varies substantially among species, its consequences for interacting with different surface shapes and roughness are not well understood (Tulli et al, 2009).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Why arboreal snakes should not be cylindrical: body shape, incline and surface roughness have interactive effects on locomotion

Jayne

Newman

Zentkovich

et al. 2015

Journal of Experimental Biology

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Depending on animal size, shape, body plan and behaviour, variation in surface structure can affect the speed and ease of locomotion. The slope of branches and the roughness of bark both vary considerably, but their combined effects on the locomotion of arboreal animals are poorly understood. We used artificial branches with five inclines and five peg heights (≤40 mm) to test for interactive effects on the locomotion of three snake species with different body shapes. Unlike boa constrictors (Boa constrictor), corn snakes (Pantherophis guttatus) and brown tree snakes (Boiga irregularis) can both form ventrolateral keels, which are most pronounced in B. irregularis. Increasing peg height up to 10 mm elicited more of the lateral undulatory behaviour (sliding contact without gripping) rather than the concertina behaviour ( periodic static gripping) and increased the speed of lateral undulation. Increased incline: (1) elicited more concertina locomotion, (2) decreased speed and (3) increased the threshold peg height that elicited lateral undulation. Boiga irregularis was the fastest species, and it used lateral undulation on the most surfaces, including a vertical cylinder with pegs only 1 mm high. Overall, B. constrictor was the slowest and used the most concertina locomotion, but this species climbed steep, smooth surfaces faster than P. guttatus. Our results illustrate how morphology and two different aspects of habitat structure can have interactive effects on organismal performance and behaviour. Notably, a sharper keel facilitated exploiting shorter protrusions to prevent slipping and provide propulsion, which became increasingly important as surface steepness increased.

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“…As noted above, several works on Anolis and other lizards that were framed in such a broad context actually showed a stronger correlation between form and phylogeny. Abdala et al (2014) recognized this somewhat when they stated that "the overwhelming effect of phylogeny in shaping morphology has been repeatedly obtained in studies of various taxa" and of many different structures, such as the external anatomy of lacertids (Vanhooydonck and Van Damme, 1999) and skinks (Goodman et al, 2008) and liolaemids (Schulte et al, 2004;Tulli et al, 2009), thermal biology of liolaemids , and internal morphology of geckos and liolaemids (Zaaf et al, 1999;Tulli et al, 2012). Moreover, similar results were obtained for tendinous tissue in iguanid lizards (Tulli et al, 2011), and forelimb traits in tropidurid lizards (Grizante et al, 2010).…”

Section: An Overview Of Empirical Etho-eco-morphological Studies Acromentioning

confidence: 99%

Etho-Eco-Morphological Mismatches, an Overlooked Phenomenon in Ecology, Evolution and Evo-Devo That Supports ONCE (Organic Nonoptimal Constrained Evolution) and the Key Evolutionary Role of Organismal Behavior

Diogo

2017

Front. Ecol. Evol.

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Since ecomorphologists have started to use explicit and taxonomically-broad frameworks in studies on the relationships between form, behavior, ecology and phylogeny they have consistently reported-often against their expectations-(1) that phylogeny is usually a better predictor of anatomy than ecology is, and (2) many cases of etho-eco-morphological mismatches. It is puzzling that such mismatches occur frequently in an evolutionary process that often leads to macroevolutionary trends and in which organisms are said to be optimally/almost optimally "designed" for the habitats they inhabit. Organic Nonoptimal Constrained Evolution (ONCE), a new perspective on biological evolution that is proposed here, addresses this apparent paradox, based on an extensive compilation of empirical data and broader evolutionary ideas, from Aristotle to current Evo-Devo. According to ONCE, by taking behavioral choices, and subsequently due to their behavioral persistence related to behavioral/ecological inheritance, organisms as diverse as bacteria, plants and animals help to construct their own niches and are thus the central, active players in their evolutionary history. Darwinian (external) natural selection thus plays mainly a secondary -but still crucial -role in biological evolution, for instance helping to direct major evolutionary trends by selecting those random mutations that are advantageous within the context of the new, constructed niches. The highly constrained character of organic evolution, including developmental constraints as well as the crucial role played by behavioral persistence, can dramatically limit the occurrence of new behavioral shifts and thus the responses to external (e.g., environmental) changes, often resulting in etho-eco-morphological mismatches and eventually in evolutionary dead-ends that may lead to extinction.

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The interplay between claw morphology and microhabitat use in neotropical iguanian lizards

Cited by 87 publications

References 59 publications

Claw morphometrics in monitor lizards: Variable substrate and habitat use correlate to shape diversity within a predator guild

Claw morphometrics in monitor lizards: Variable substrate and habitat use correlate to shape diversity within a predator guild

Why arboreal snakes should not be cylindrical: body shape, incline and surface roughness have interactive effects on locomotion

Etho-Eco-Morphological Mismatches, an Overlooked Phenomenon in Ecology, Evolution and Evo-Devo That Supports ONCE (Organic Nonoptimal Constrained Evolution) and the Key Evolutionary Role of Organismal Behavior

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